Lent: Turn Around Time

Yesterday we entered the season of Lent. A period of 40 days and 40 nights where we are traditionally invited to turn back to God and rededicate ourselves to him. The word repent crops up a lot in this season. The origins of the word mean to 'turn around' so you could view the season as one where we turn around our lives so that we may be in a better relationship with God. You could view it as turning to face God. If we are new in faith that might be happening already, if we have been Christians for years we may need to urgently do it because our trajectory needs correcting because our faith has become a routine or because the truth hasn't set us free yet!

I think that the reason they say 40 nights as well as 40 days is because it can be challenging. It can be a night time of the soul if we truly address some of the things that hold us back from being whole.

Some of the biggest things that have happened in my life have been whilst on retreat. I suppose it happens just because you decide to be more open to the Spirit and because God is a God who can surprise us with his love. At times even ambush in the midst of our evil doing! Those are the extremes but one author even called him the 'gentle invader' of our lives. I like that idea. In my life so far he has caught me in all three ways. I wonder how he catches you today? He is a God who brings love, peace and joy. Especially to those who repent and turn back to him.

For reflection:

Amos 5.14
Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.

It's a powerful passage from one of the prophets so direct cutting right through to the heart of the matter.

Ask yourself do you Seek good?
-bringing it out of yourself
-bringing it out of others
- are you finding good things in the word of God
-seeking the good in creation and working to maintain it
-hungering and thirsting after justice?

Dear Lord, let me find you again. Bless my day and send me an opportunity to be closer to you. Amen

Take nothing for the journey

When Jesus sent out the twelve disciples he told them "take nothing for the journey." An extraordinary statement to people going on a journey. Even when I go bird watching I put a muesli bar in my pocket! Yet they were doing far more than a hike. He also gave them other instructions too and the full passage is to be found at Mark 6:8. But the bit I want to concentrate on today is the Jehovah Jireh nature of what Jesus says. Jehovah Jireh means "The Lord will provide." Jesus instruction to take no food was given because he was sending the twelve on a mission where they were going to rely on God to provide what they needed.

For us to approach God we don't need to have anything other than ourselves. We don't need anything in advance. We don't need to wait until we are good enough or old enough. We don't even have to wait until we have finished giving up our addictions. For us to approach God all we need is ourselves and the willingness to turn our attention towards him. I invite you to do that today. You will find that Jehovah Jireh will provide for you too. All you need to do is turn your face him. It's good to be free of distractions, telly etc but if you are in a place where you can't stop them you can still approach God.

God is loving and wants to be able bless you he has said "Call to me, and I will answer you" I want you to know that this promise is for you also. He is waiting to bring you peace.

As St James put it "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you."

You can speak to him in your own words as you would a friend. Or if you like you can borrow the words below. When we approach God it changes us. It can either be gradual or immediately. But somehow we are changed for the better. I want my faith to strengthen you and for you to share something wonderful that I know about.

Dear God you search me and you know me, I ask you to make yourself known to me today. As it says in the Psalm "When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there. You saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me have all been recorded in your book." You know me as I am and as I would like to be and your love as God is unconditional. Help me to take steps to being a better person. Touch my life with your loving kindness. Amen

“See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin."

Matthew 6:27-29

Passages for Further Reflection:

Luke 12:22-31 "Trust in God"

Psalm 139 "God's complete knowledge and care"

This is the way walk in it!

We are all going somewhere with our lives. What is happening to us is always driving us in one direction or another. We never truly stand still.

Do you ever wonder if there is a way forward out of your situation?

I was chatting to some work colleagues yesterday in the kitchen. We were joking about the national lottery, one guy was saying how wonderful it would be to win it. But he was joking that he would have to give some money to his wife, his children and his dog before they would let him enjoy any!

Buying a lottery ticket is a bit like buying a ticket for a dream. But a dream that lasts only to the next draw before it is dashed. But for one pound you can have a little bit of hope. And we all need a bit of hope in our lives.

I have discovered another source of hope and it doesn't require money. For a while now I have been a follower of a way that has a hope and a reality at the end of it. It is a way that gradually changes me for the better and that lifts my spirits and let's me begin to encounter peace!

Thousands of years ago the prophet Isaiah wrote this passage "the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. ..... How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

This gives us the impression that God is there to be interacted with. In my experience that is certainly true although we need to be listening in order to catch the Holy Spirit speaking into our lives.

God can sometimes guide us

• through the words of a stranger or friend
• through the words in the bible
• through life circumstances
• through the world he created

and sometimes he wants our response!

Another passage, a personal favourite of mine is from Jeremiah "This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."

By following the ancient paths or ways we are following well trodden routes into the heart of God. Why go another less direct way!? Why go through the thicket and get caught in brambles when the path is there all along? I am inviting you to travel with me weekly on that way that leads to God.

Dear Lord, give us please your guidance to that which makes us whole. Send your Spirit again to our lives so that we are renewed and strengthened. Amen

Have your roots and foundation in love!

I had a lovely trip to Wakehurst Place a couple of years back with some of my sisters and just had to take a picture of this tree. It's amazing isn't it? Doing it's level best to nurture itself and to survive. What you can't see in the photo was that on the rock was a tiny crevice filled with a bit of dirt and water. And that was proving just enough to let the tree grow just so far. But I can imagine that it will only reach and grow so far before it becomes too heavy for its delicate little roots and falls off.

On the other hand in Christchurch Park in Ipswich I saw this fine specimen of a tree. Look how wonderful the roots are in comparison. This tree has been here for years and is likely to be around for quite a few years more.

It struck me that this is a bit like what happens to us in life. Now of course about some things we don't have a choice they are decided for us by circumstances and other forces like our parents. But it doesn't do to hold them responsible for everything does it? Therefore the big question is do we take the time, and I suppose trouble, to nurture our own lives? And is what we do really nurturing? I know that is a wide reaching question and that as we are composed of body, soul and spirit it might set our minds running in different directions. But let's forget about the body for the moment and think about our spirit. I am convinced that what has really nurtured me in my life is the love that I have received from people. Some of it totally undeserved. But to be loved and to love is a refreshing experience. It lifts us and renews us. Whereas if we choose something death giving like sin or drugs the opposite of nurture takes place. And we can become like the tree in the first picture ready to drop of our perch!

Now God loved us first! This lovely passage from St Paul's letter to the Ephesians reminds us that the true source for nourishment in our lives is the love that comes from God.

"I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep,is Christ's love."

Dear Father God, I pray that each of us may come to know you a bit better and be able to respond to the love that you have for us, invade our lives with your gentle life giving Holy Spirit blessing us and renewing us, please make us like a well watered garden - growing in your love daily. Amen